Fantastic new privacy browser

[Larwee]

I pay close attention to new browsers since I am really interested in browsers. Some of them are worthwhile and others are much less than impressive.

I've been testing a new browser for the past several days and I am very impressed with it. This browser is designed to do one thing. It does that one thing and it does a very good job.

The purpose of it is to protect the privacy of the user. It does that by automatically discarding all traces of a Web session.

You must have Internet Explorer 5.5 or higher for this 264K application that runs on Windows systems. This browser uses the Internet Explorer rendering engine. There are plans for Mac versions and Linux versions but the release dates have yet to be determined.

The privacy issues are handled by not saving files to a cache or history log. All cookies acquired during a session are deleted when the browser is closed.

You can download it each time you want to use it since it is so small, or you can store it on your hard drive or flash drive and run it from there.

Browsers such as Firefox can be set to automatically delete the browsing history and all cookies, as well as empty the cache, each time the browser is closed. But this one is easier and can also be used in a wider variety of circumstances.

You can also use this browser to search for what you want. It won't remember your searches and it won't auto-complete them.

You can use this browser for privacy at the home of friends or relatives, an Internet cafe, at work etc.

The name of this browser is Browzar. Here is a link to their site where you can obtain additional information as well as download it and see what you think about it http://www.browzar.com

[praveen]

interesting bit of news here published by theregister.co.uk

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09...wzar_backlash/

Security experts are crying foul over a new supposedly secure browser application.

Browzar is promoted as an easy way for users to surf the web without leaving traces of sensitive information behind on their PCs. Critics say it fails to do what it says on the tin and, worse still, the software manipulates search results to push ads at users.

Browzar, according to its developers, is designed not to retain information. Browzar automatically deletes internet caches, histories, cookies. It doesn't use auto-complete forms, a feature that anticipates the search term or web address a user might enter.

Initially, we took these assurances at face value, but many problems with the software have since emerged.

Although positioned as a fully fledged browser application, Browzar is a simple "custom wrapper" and user interface for IE that inherits any problems an installed version of Internet Explorer might have, while adding some all of its own. The software is supposed to get rid of all records of sites surfers may have visited, along with cookies and history files relating to a Browzar session from users' PCs.

But Browzar does not clean up all traces of surfing as promised. Deleted files are not wiped and would be easy to recover - allowing anyone with a basic data recovery tool to access history, cookies or any other media downloaded using Browzar. Furthermore, because Browzar uses IE's ActiveX control, a list of browsed websites stills appear in the index.dat file. Browzar therefore, according to critics, offers a false sense of privacy protection.

As if that wasn't enough reason to be wary of the software, Browzar steers users towards the firm's own search page which allows the browser's developers to insert sponsored links intermixed with regular search results. Much of the criticism of Browzar has focused on its skewed search engine and the use of Browzar's website as the default (unchangeable) home page for surfers.

you can read the full news at the url above...

[Jan]

There seems to be quite a bit of bad press if you do a google search.

'Adware' attack on privacy tool

Browzar promises users total privacy when surfing the web
Software that claimed to provide increased privacy whilst surfing the web has been criticised by computer experts and the blogging community.
The application Browzar has been branded "adware" by many because it directs web searches to online adverts.

Some technical experts also say Browzar, which claims to leave no trail of webpages visited, does not work.

Browzar's developers say they are examining the feedback but strongly deny that it is adware.

Mr Ajaz Ahmed, founder of internet service provider Freeserve and the man behind Browzar, told the BBC News website that he thought people were misusing the term.

"This is not adware at all," he said. "Like every search engine, Browzar has sponsored advertising."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5310114.stm